It’s been a whirlwind day today in cybersecurity – quite a way to kick off Cybersecurity Awareness Month. First off, the Department of Homeland Security warned that VPNs have been hacked and need to be patched immediately. We also reported on an FBI ransomware alert. In related news, a DHS official says the lack of cybersecurity talent is a national security issue.

Here are other thoughts from cybersecurity leaders:

There has typically been little attention paid to SMB cybersecurity, making those companies prime targets for cybercriminals. Because of the growing complexity of small business technology environments, being able to meet the security needs of these increasingly technological organizations has quickly risen to be a top MSP priority. This October for Cybersecurity Awareness Month and beyond, MSPs and IT professionals must be vigilant in addressing the skills gap challenge, implementing the right technologies, regularly training employees in security best practices, and recognizing that keeping your business secure is a never-ending, always-evolving undertaking.” –

Michael George, CEO of Continuum

“2019 has been a banner year for major cybersecurity threats. Attacks on the American Medical Collection Agency, hits on local governments, along with the high-profile coverage of ransomware in the upcoming 2020 election cycle, should serve as a warning for SMBs. Yet, many still have a laissez-faire attitude toward IT security. A recent survey of cybersecurity decision-makers in U.S. SMBs revealed the extent to which they underestimate the impact of today’s cybersecurity threats. While this survey registered a higher awareness among SMBs as compared to Q1 and Q2 of 2019, it revealed additional areas where improvement is still needed. From drastic misconceptions around the financial impact of an attack, frequent patch application delays, and an overall stagnation in preparedness, an increase in education is needed to help translate that general awareness into positive action rather than passive acceptance.”

Troy Gill, manager of security research at AppRiver

“The number one lesson of Cybersecurity Awareness Month for every company should be that cybersecurity is no longer just an IT issue; it’s an existential issue for the whole business. Any device that collects information is ripe for attack. For example, at SharperShape we use drones to collect data that helps prevent fires. And while we don’t in any way collect private or personal information, our security measures ensure that only those using our application can access the data. We do this not because we are under immediate threat, but because we never know when we could be.”

Ilkka Hiidenheimo, CEO of Sharper Shape

Learn about the latest in everything you need! Cybersecurity, the Channel, IT, IOT, Edge, AI, SD-WAN, and the Future of Work at the world’s only SD-WAN Expo and MSP Expo, part of the ITEXPO #TechSuperShow, Feb 12-14, 2020 Fort Lauderdale, FL.